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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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23

Stones Legend Bashes Guitar Hero

Real instruments gathering moss, Wyman complains

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(Newser) – The growth of video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band means fewer real guitar heros in the future, complains former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Playing the games "encourages kids not to learn, that's the trouble. It makes less and less people dedicated to really get down and learn an instrument," he tells the Guardian. "I think it's a pity."

The Stone's gripes were echoed by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. "It irritates me having watched my kids do it," he said of the game. "If they spent as much time practicing the guitar as learning how to press the buttons, they'd be damn good by now." The rockers were speaking ahead of the launch of The Beatles: Rock Band game, which lets players play along to the Fab Four's career.

Bill Wyman plays guitar at the Cafe de Paris, London, in 2002. He played bass for the Rolling Stones until 1992.
Bill Wyman plays guitar at the Cafe de Paris, London, in 2002. He played bass for the Rolling Stones until 1992.   (Getty Images)
Guitar Hero is causing fewer young people to pick up real instruments, Wyman says.
Guitar Hero is causing fewer young people to pick up real instruments, Wyman says.   (AP Photo/Activision)
Pink Floyd members Roger Waters, left, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, and Richard Wright leap from the steps of EMI House in London in this 1967 photo.
Pink Floyd members Roger Waters, left, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, and Richard Wright leap from the steps of EMI House in London in this 1967 photo.   (AP Photo, File)
Jean-Luc Godard directs Bill Wyman and Mick Jagger during the shooting of the Rolling Stones documentary 'Sympathy For the Devil' in 1968.
Jean-Luc Godard directs Bill Wyman and Mick Jagger during the shooting of the Rolling Stones documentary 'Sympathy For the Devil' in 1968.   (Getty Images)
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23 comments
VIEWING:
 
drlarrymitchell
Sep 9, 09 5:12 AM CDT
Aptly put. Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Sep 9, 09 1:57 PM CDT
My 16 year old said this same thing two years about his friends that were addicted to the game. Guess I better start paying more attention to his thoughts.
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+2
riffran
Sep 9, 09 5:31 AM CDT
I have a bud who plays the guitar, and he feels the same way, my wife, sister in law , father in law, all play multiple stringed instruments, and they refused to allow guitar hero in to our respective homes, for the same reason........ Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
BeatBlaster
Sep 9, 09 11:03 AM CDT
Geez you make GH sound like the records from the 70's that you played backwards and supposedly heard satanic voices from. Get a grip people. Technology makes people lazy. It's a side side effect of efficiency. On the other hand, I don't know a single person who's gotten drugs, sex, money AND fame from being able to beat Through the Fire and Flames on uber-Expert mode.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
WharfRat
Sep 9, 09 9:14 PM CDT
i think its true. instead of hours playing video games, practice.
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